ESA Open Invitation To Tender AO8456
Open Date: 04/11/2015
Closing Date: 31/12/2015

Status: ISSUED
Reference Nr.: 15.112.17
Prog. Ref.: TRP
Budget Ref.: E/0901-01 – TRP
Special Prov.: BE+DK+FR+DE+IT+NL+ES+SE+CH+GB+IE+AT+NO+FI+PT+GR+LU+CZ+RO+PL
Tender Type: C
Price Range: 200-500 KEURO
Establishment: ESOC
Directorate: Directorate Human Spaceflight & Operatio
Department: Ground Systems Engineering Department
Division: Ground Station Systems Division
Contract Officer: Hurtz, Anne Maria
Last Update Date: 04/11/2015
Update Reason: Tender issue

The present ESA Deep Space antenna network comprises three Deep Space antennas. Such network has been designed to support Deep Space Missions in S-, X- , K and Ka- bands fulfilling the TT&C service requirements of current generation missions as well as future planned missions in the short to medium term. In the longer term, new missions will be more demanding in terms of requirements for TT&Cand TM reception.: Furthermore, recovery of satellites or critical support in safe-survival mode under critical conditions (e.g. superior solar conjunction) would greatly benefit of increased margin in the link. One core part of the array system, is the correlation and combination of the signals coming from the different antennas in order to minimise the combination losses and achieve the potential desired theoretical array gain. Such operations are normally performed in real-time fashion. ESA does not have two or more deep space antennas available at the same site, therefore, in order to study the concept and develop the suitable algorithms, an off-line array type must be realised. This can be achieved by simultaneously recording at two Deep Space antenna locations the full spectrum of the TM signal emitted by a single spacecraft in open-loop mode, then transferring the data to a central location (ESOC) and perform the correlation and combination exercise and the subsequent demodulation and decoding of the combined signal off-line, by means of software. The objective of the activity is therefore to study and propose the suitable solutions in terms of signal correlation and combination algorithms guaranteeing minimum losses, develop a software breadboard to be operated off-line with the proposed solution capable to work with open loop data in any array configuration involving up to 4 antennas and develop a software demodulator/decoder which will be used for a real test on a flying mission to be agreed with the Agency, C(1) = Activity restricted to non-prime contractors (incl. SMEs). For additional information please go to EMITS news (dated 05/02/2001) “Industrial Policy measures for non-primes, SMEs and R&D entities in ESA programmes”.

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